Everybody has dreams.  Here is one of mine. 

I heard Sara Groves word this so well in one of her songs that I am reticent to even attempt to write this.  I will never be able to capture the simple elegance of her words as she sang about wishing she could have all those she loved gathered together around a campfire, trading stories and just loving one another.  She put voice to one of my deepest desires.

I would love to collectively wrap my arms around all those I love and, in turn, see all of you joyously celebrating being with one another.  To my mind, in my heart, that is fellowship in its purest form – people gathered together, praising God as one, in tune, caring for one another, truly happy to be in each other’s company.

This would be a rather large gathering, as one of the great blessings of my life is the people the Lord has placed in my path – some for a season, some for a lifetime.  I would love to bring all of us together.  No pretenses.  Just to be. 

If only for a day. 

I know we would all go back to our homes changed – for the better.

I would pray that Jesus would work in hearts.  Wounds would be healed, hurts nursed, hard feelings softened, transgressions forgiven.  I would hope for a wonderful time of catching up, of refreshment, of people just happy to be together.

I would pray that love be our lead, and we would all connect on that deeper level that comes only from true fellowship.  I would see people so happy to see one another that tears of joy stream down faces.  Hugs abound, laughter arises…

All the people I love filled with joy in Christ.

All of them so happy and laughing with not one ounce of pain, or regret, or bitterness, or mourning, or struggle.

All of my loved ones together.

If only for a day.

Can’t you just see it? I can.

I write a lot about hope.  Hope is a cornerstone of the ministry I do.  It is part of my daily prayer: to bring hope to as many people as Christ wills, and that God be glorified in that work.

Hope is vital.  It is so intimately intertwined with faith that the two are practically mutually dependent.  You cannot have faith in Christ without Him being your hope.  You cannot cling to hope if you don’t believe and trust in Someone in Whom you can find hope.

So what does one do when he reaches out with a message of hope – proclaiming the Gospel of Christ – and finds it falling on deaf ears?  Simple: you keep proclaiming the truth.  You keep pointing to Jesus, our Hope and Salvation. 

We were never instructed to go out into the world and convert people.  God never said, “Force salt and light down their throats.”  No, we are called to be salt and light.  We are called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ!  Shout it from the rooftops – with our very lives, not only our voices – and let all the world know:

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. 6  The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. – Psalms 121:1-8 (ESV)

All we are called to do is love others, and proclaim the Gospel message.  There is hope – hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.  There is hope for today and forevermore.  No situation is beyond His grasp.  There is no need to wrestle any longer. 

Love God.  Love one another.  Find hope in Him and rest there. 

Keep proclaiming the Truth.  God will bring the results.